2010 Kia Forte Test Drive: Solid, Slick Compact Sedan Hits 33 MPG

SEATTLE–The first comment that leapt to the lips of some folks in a local gas station was "Hey, it looks like a little Audi." Since when was a Kia ever mistaken for an Audi? But sure enough, if you look at the high rear deck and the general proportions, the Forte certainly bears some resemblance to the cars from Ingolstadt.

Then you learn that the new design chief of Kia's California Design Center is Peter Schreyer, formerly of Audi Design, and the pieces click into place. Old habits die hard, it seems, but this can be a very good thing for a carmaker like Kia, whose various efforts over the years have often screamed "cheap Korean baroque" rather than the complimentary observations heard in the Emerald City.—Barry Winfield

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The Specs

The new Forte replaces the Spectra, Kia's former representative in the compact car market. With the new name comes a new and striking visual presence, along with carefully thought-out strategies to help the newly christened Kia do battle with stalwart segment superstars like Civic, Corolla and Mazda3.

There's more front headroom, shoulder room and luggage space in the Forte than in the competition, according to Kia's VP of marketing, Michael Sprague. Safety is critical to this market, so the Forte (which means strong) is comprised of 63 percent high-strength steel. All models have ABS, ESC (stability control), electronic brake distribution, brake assist, traction control, and six airbags, including a full-length side-curtain bag.

Two engines power the range. The LX base model and its up-level EX twin have a 156-hp DOHC inline Four engine with continuously variable valve timing, twisting out 144 lb-ft of torque. It's teamed with either a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic. The more-ambitious SX offering has a 2.4-liter Four producing 173-hp and 168 lb-ft of torque, and both of its transmission options are six-speeds. To accommodate the extra performance, the Forte SX wears larger wheels and tires and rides on a sport-tuned suspension.

Along with SULEV versions for California, which produce slightly less maximum power along with the reduced emissions, a special fuel efficiency model is being offered, based on the 2.0-liter powertrain. These models are fitted with an electric power-steering mechanism, low-rolling -resistance tires, a "smart" clutched alternator, and aerodynamic enhancements for an EPA-estimated consumption of 22 mpg in the city, 33 on the highway.

Like all Kias, a very competitive standard equipment level accompanies the Forte to market, with a stock satellite-ready radio/CD stereo system with auxiliary inputs, Bluetooth connectivity, tilting steering column, and tachometer on all models. The base LX requires the purchase of a convenience package option to get the air-conditioning system all other models enjoy (along with the power locks, windows and remote access the LXs will sadly never see).

The Drive

We started off in the top-dog SX with a six-speed automatic, and were impressed by the sense of solidity afforded by the structure and by the precise and artful rendering of the interior. Power from the 2.4-liter engine is adequate, and we were impressed to see a Sportshift manual-override system on the smooth-shifting automatic.

The SX has a surprisingly comprehensive equipment list, with all the things we used to equate with luxury cars at hand all around us in the cabin. Only navigation is conspicuously absent, and we'd rather have it that way, given that you can pick up very affordable Garmins, Magellans, and Tom-Toms any day of the week—and share them with every car in the garage.

With struts at the front, and a torsion beam axle out back, the Forte rides quite well. We were initially concerned about high levels of vibration feeding back through the steering column, but it must have been due to unusually coarse pavement in spots on our route around Seattle, because it seemed less noticeable as the day wore on. Although the vibrations largely disappeared, the Forte's tires remain sensitive to surface texture, and transmit widely varying noise levels to the occupants.

A fairly twisty route revealed the Forte to have a stable chassis and accurate, if somewhat over-boosted steering. Ironically, the electric power assist found on the fuel efficiency model had better weighting, but suffered (as most electric systems do) from the peculiarly digital response off-center, along with an almost magnetic self-centering tug.

The 2.0-liter engine obviously hasn't got the midrange torque of the 2.4, and needs more vigorous spurring to keep the pace up, but it's also smooth and sweet-sounding in normal operation. We'd eschew the manual transmissions—both five- and six-speed units—in preference to the automatics. In the pursuit of refinement and noise reduction, the Kia engineers have softened clutch-pedal feel to the point of utter numbness.

Adding to the challenge of finding the engagement point is a throttle response that is too eager off the stop, leading to unintentional peel-out launches. Then the engine-management system hangs on to revs during shifts, complicating the business of smooth driving. Finally, the throttle doesn't blip responsively if you want to double-clutch a downshift.

It would be pretty miraculous if Kia had brought the control integration to its small car that we might expect from something that looks like a pedigreed European sport sedan. Except that Civic and Mazda3 do approach that standard much more closely.

The Bottom Line

Kia's new Forte undercuts the Japanese opposition handily, particularly when compared on a standard equipment basis, with the LX starting at $14,390 including freight. An EX, with air and all power, is $16,795, and the more-powerful SX starts at $17,890.

With continuous improvements to quality and refinement, it's clear that Kia is an emerging threat to the established brands in this segment. A generous warranty, decidedly upscale styling and very competitive comfort and convenience make the Forte more worthy of a shopper's consideration than anything Kia has ever had in that segment. Its clear Kia is on a roll.